‘Barb’s just got so much love to give ? she’s a little ball of love,? said Traci Trube of Sterling Heights. ‘She listens to the parents and is there to provide counseling and advice. We couldn’t have asked for a better blessing for these kids.?
Trube first met Barbara Lubinski, executive director of the Precious Children Respite Home, in 1997 when the Springfield Township family sold their Hogback Lake Road home to her.
‘I was pregnant at the time,? remembers Trube, ‘and we met Barb who was interested in purchasing the home to create a care facility. At the time, we wanted to do this for such a good cause.?
Little did Trube know, she would one day need Lubinski’s services.
The mission of the Precious Children Respite Home, opened in 1998, is to ‘provide charitable respite services to families with children that have life-altering illness, using a holistic approach that encompasses quality care, attention to individual spirituality, emotional well-being and dignity.?
The home is the only licensed facility for medically fragile children in Southeast Michigan.
Lubinski, who developed the idea while working as an in-home care nurse in Commerce Township, said she provides a ‘vacation? for families with children who have Cerebral Palsy, Chomosomal Anomalies, muscular disorders and many other special needs.
‘The children have to be stable, but not so that they can’t be one-on-one,? explained Lubinski. ‘We take medically fragile children. This means children whose life span has been shortened for one reason or another.
‘Our goal is to give the families time to be a family. To be able to do what families do without having to worry about their special child. Then, everyone can come back together refreshed and strengthened.?
The respite home provides short-term and licensed care for up to six children of either sex, ages birth through 17. Children come from across Southeast Michigan including Oakland, Macomb, Wayne and Washtenaw counties.
Lubinski said she normally only schedules three to four children; and the shortest visit is normally 24 hours while the longest to date was 17 days.
‘We had a young one whose parents took a vacation for the first time in years to Hawaii and he stayed for 17 days,? Lubinski remembers.
‘Many of the parents refer to this as the ‘Vacation House? to the kids, and some of the kids say they are going to Grandma’s,? said Lubinski. ‘I really love that one.?
While visiting, Lubinski tries to provide the children with as ‘homey? an atmosphere as possible.
The home includes a functional living room with plenty of physical therapy ‘toys? and open play space. One bedroom is set as a comfortable nursery while the others have cozy single beds. Both bathrooms are handicap accessible and one has a whirlpool tub for ‘splash? time.
Parties are a regular event throughout the year with holidays and picnics being the highlights. The children are also encouraged to explore their surroundings, the outdoors and each other.
‘We interact a lot with the children,? said Lubinski. ‘It’s very important to have parties and go outside to play.
‘The best thing is that it’s fun for them and they can feel normal for the first time in their lives because everyone around them has disability. They can be on vacation.?
Most children visit the respite home on the weekends and stays are scheduled a week or two ahead. However, Lubinski said she must schedule weekday and extended stays earlier, especially since she must take time off from her full-time position.
‘I would love for this to be my full-time job, but that’s just not possible right now,? said Lubinski, who lives in the basement of the respite home. ‘It’s hard as a non-profit to make ends meet sometimes.?
Payment for services is set on a sliding scale based on ability. The non-profit organization also relies on grants, foundations, private donations and agency contracts to provide for the children.
According to Lubinski, many private donations are used as ‘scholarships? for families who can not afford visits to the home.
‘Our goal is to provide services to everyone regardless of ability to pay,? she stated.
In addition to Lubinski, the Precious Children Respite Home has three workers: Respite Care Coordinator Theresa Blackman, retired nurse and volunteer Kathy McMann, and volunteer Traci Trube.
Trube started volunteering after her 7-year-old daughter Abi, who enjoyed her stays with Lubinski, recently passed away.
‘She was under a year old when she came for her first visit. It was when we needed to take a family trip to Chicago,? remembers Trube. ‘I would have never thought when we sold Barb this house we would be needing her services. I figured it was God’s grace that we did this.
‘There is no other better place as far as I’m concerned. God would not have put us together if that wasn’t the case.?
‘We’re simply so happy and blessed to be a part of the community,? said Lubinski, ‘and we’re grateful for everything.?
For more information on Precious Children’s Respite Home, located in Springfield Township, please call 248-625-2995.

Learn More
Barb Lubinski is the guest speaker at St. Daniel Catholic Church’s Spaghetti Dinner on March 25 at 6 p.m. in the Cushing Center.
The dinner will follow the evening’s Mass service and the goal is to build awareness about the Precious Children Respite Home.
Anyone is welcome to attend, no registration is needed. Donations accepted at the door to benefit the Precious Children Respite Home.
For more information, please call Carol Howell at 248-620-6175.